Sáblíková strikes Olympic gold

The Czech team's medal contenders in the Vancouver Winter Olympics are living up to fans' expectations as the country has already secured two medals, including one gold.

Speed-skater Martina Sáblíková celebrated the sixth gold medal in Czech Winter Olympic history after winning the women's 3,000-meter race Feb. 14.

Never before has a Czech athlete been such a favorite in the lead-up to a Winter Olympic race. Sáblíková has dominated women's speed skating for three seasons, and, this season, she won three out five 3,000-meter races that she took part in and was beaten twice by Germany's Stephanie Beckert.

Despite Sáblíková's dominance, the 22-year-old skater said she was quite nervous before the race.

"Fighting for a medal here was quite demanding ... especially when I heard from all sides that I was supposed to be skating for the gold," Sáblíková said. "The day before the race, I only slept for about two hours and felt dizzy after practice."

During the competition, however, Sáblíková dominated once again. In contrast to most of her opponents, she was able to maintain her high speed on the track through the finish line.

"The last three laps were very exhausting. I knew I had to squeeze the best out of myself, and I did it," Sáblíková said.

After her race, she waited near the finish line for the rest of the racers to finish.

"I knew I had a good chance, but truly anything can happen in sports," Sáblíková said.

By the time only two competitors remained, Sáblíková knew she had won her first Olympic medal.

"The fact I won became clear to me no earlier than when the last skater crossed the finish line," she said. "[Winning] the gold medal in my first race in Vancouver was an unbelievable dream come true."

Sáblíková's Olympic triumph will help materialize a dream of the entire Czech speed-skating community. Jiří Otta, mayor of the Central Bohemian town Velký Osek, Sáblíková's residence, said moments after the skater's triumph that a 1.5 billion Kč ($79 million) speed-skating arena will be built in the town. He said Sáblíková's triumph assured the still-unnamed private investors to pursue the project. At present, there is no speed-skating arena in the Czech Republic.

Until about three years ago, Sáblíková used to practice on a sliding mat in her parent's living room. As she became successful in major competitions, she traveled to practice abroad.

Sáblíková has a good chance to become the very first Czech athlete to win two or more gold medals at the Winter Olympics. She is still scheduled to compete in her least-favored 1,500-meter race and also in her strongest, the 5,000-meter race. Over the past four years, Sáblíková has lost only once in the 5,000-meters.

"We'll see what's going to happen," Sáblíková said.

Taking bronze

Another Czech medal contender, cross-country skier Lukáš Bauer, won a bronze medal Feb. 15 in the men's 15-km freestyle race. Bauer, the World Cup champion this year, was, together with Norwegian Petter Northug, a favorite in the event. Northug finished 41st, and Bauer also struggled throughout the race. He took an early lead but struggled at the 5-kilometer mark. A strong finish earned Bauer the bronze.

"This time, I value the bronze as if it was the gold. I had to work very hard for it," Bauer said.

Similarly to Sáblíková, Bauer said he would challenge further success in Vancouver.

"I've already grabbed a medal in the first race. Now, there'll be room to challenge gold," Bauer said.

Price of injury

The only would-be Czech medal hope that ended empty handed was moguls skier Nikola Sudová. She ranks third in this season's World Cup and had been considered another medal challenger before the games. However, Sudová tore ligaments in her left knee one month before the Olympics, and, even with a tailor-made brace, the injury prevented her from displaying her best skills. In the end, she finished 16th Feb. 13. After a jump, Sudová landed on the left leg and almost fell. She said after the race that, if she had been fit, she could've challenged for victory.

"The slope looked like it was tailor-made for me," Sudová said.

František Bouc can be reached at
fbouc@praguepost.com